August 30, 2011

My husband is retiring tomorrow and he is only 50 years old. Our current government has done away with his position in the Department of Agriculture. Sure, this is not quite what we had planned for our future, but some great things are coming out of this change: we have retirement, we have health insurance, and we have a whole new adventure to explore. Below is my husband's goodbye letter to his friends and coworkers. I'm very proud of his outlook and very thankful for the way God has blessed our family and cared for our needs.

Charlie Meek signing
off from NRCS!

Effective August 31, I will be retiring from NRCS. When I started my career as a student trainee
in Cookeville, TN in May of 1981, I never dreamed such a wide array of opportunities
and blessings would come my way. I’m
grateful to have worked in three different states (TN, GA, AL) and to have been
a part of the conservation effort in numerous ways, especially serving the
RC&D Program since 1996 for which I felt at home.

As much as I have loved the positive aspects of working for SCS/NRCS,
for some time I have felt a strong pull in my heart to serve God in a greater
capacity and spend more time on our small farm experiencing what I view as real life, such as smelling fresh
mowed hay stored in the barn or walking out to the barn in the wee hours of the
morning and hearing a lamb bleating to its mom and saying hello world. Thus the
early retirement option sure seems to be a good fit so I’m going to jump and
pursue some dreams. Short term plans
include additional involvement in ministry and service to others, expanding our
small farm enterprise especially marketing lamb, and last but not least, I hope
to continue to support the Northwest Alabama RC&D Council which I have been
given the privilege to serve since February 2004.

Stepping out the door I find myself with a lack of words to
adequately thank family (especially my wife and son), co-workers within the
NRCS family and NRCS partners (for which many became special friends) for your
unwavering support. You have made an
amazing difference in my life and I can never thank you enough! I’m confident those 30 years of support and
friendship will be precious memories that will last till the Breathmaker calls
me home.

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About Me

I am a Christian, a wife, a mother, and a transplant recipient. I live my life on a small sheep farm in Northwest Alabama with my husband of 24 years and 18 year old son. I love church, family, friends, cooking, gardening, pets, redecorating, and refinishing. You will find a little of all of that here. Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.